My Mom passed away 8 months ago. I took care of her needs daily for 17 years, then became her 24/7 caregiver for the next 4 ½ years. Even though she was on hospice care I was distraught when she died. We were so close and spent a tremendous amount of time together. It is still hard. I went through 6 weeks of bereavement support, but I still believe grief is personal. I think people have a hard time understanding one’s grief when it was an aging parent. I have been told things such as, “Your parents are supposed to die.” or “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.” I mostly keep it to myself now. I feel like a part of me died with her and a part of her is still with me.

Mom's been gone for 6 weeks now and I feel like I'm still waiting to grieve. Dad had died 11 months earlier and we went right from taking care of him until he died, to turning around and caring for mom as she quickly went downhill. Some days I miss dad terribly but not so much mom and I'm wondering if I'm just getting around to processing his death. In addition, we moved away from our old home place soon after dad's passing and brought mom with us to the new house and I'm really missing the old homestead as mom and dad lived right next door to us for nearly 30 years. Too much in one year's time and I feel as if I'm just going thru the motions most days.

I appreciate the article giving me 'permission' to do whatever things I can or can't do at the moment. All the 'big' things after their deaths have been accomplished and I feel now that I'd just like to coast awhile...

My Mom died 4 weeks ago. I am still in the unacceptance state I think. Whenever my mind goes there its like there is something obstructing me from thinking about it.

I sat by her bed for hours and hours watching her die. Then she ended up dying when I went home to rest for a few hours. I've been told this is quite common. But I always wonder if I had been there when she took her last breathe maybe she would of gained consciousness and spoke to me or acknowledged my presence in some way. I know its pointless thinking these things but my mind constantly goes there.

I wish I could let my mind go to happier times that I shared with my Mom but it seems to want to relive the whole last week of her life in the hospital.

I loved this article. I am currently dealing with the loss of my ex-husband to a tumor in his throat that was cancer, Since we had been divorced for about 25 years I thought I could handle his care a lot easier than our daughters ( where that thought came from
I still dont know). Long story short, his 2 weeks became 4 months and it was hands on 24/7. The Hospice of Piedmont was the best but here I sit almost 8 weeks later, lost, angry, depressed, relieved to the point of guilt sometimes. It was a horrific experience. I pray every day that it (feelings memories ability to sleep and eat) will get a little easier. I am so glad I found this forum today. Thank you to anyone that reads this and has any thoughts.